Abstract: A device for manufacturing a product from strip tape includes a roll that draws off and separates a web of material. The web of material is severed into individual strips in cooperation with a multiple circular knife roll. A vacuum conveyor channel is associated with each strip. The vacuum conveyor channel is designed such that each strip is turned on its way to the channel or through the channel by about 90°. The end of the vacuum conveyor channel brings the strips together at one site to form a unit and at that site there are provided a guide and a transport device for the further transport to conversion equipment.

Abstract: Improved system for batching and expelling first and second stacks (10, 20) consisting of a predetermined number of clips (3) of disposable wipes from a main production line (S, 5), including at least a first grouping device (100, 200) that counts the clips (3) and transfers the stacks (10, 20) from the main production line (S, 5) to a first diverted conveyor line (A, 6) parallel to the main one, characterized in that it includes at least a second grouping device (100, 200), placed downstream from the first one, which counts the clips (3) and transfers the stacks (10, 20) from the main production line (S, 5) to a second diverted conveyor line (B, 7), parallel to the main line (S, 5), in which the first diverted conveyor line (A, 6) develops at a level lower than the second diverted conveyor line (B, 7).

Abstract: The present invention discloses a printer convenient for maintaining a paper cutting device (500). The printer comprises a paper cutting device and a movable blade avoiding mechanism. The paper cutting device has a movable blade component (510) fixed on the upper cover (100) of the printer and a fixed blade (520) fixed on the body (200) of the printer, the movable blade avoiding mechanism has an avoiding cover (210) capable of turning upward and pivoted to the body of the printer, and a positioning member (240) and an elastic pressing member (230) which keep the avoiding cover in a predetermined position on the top of the fixed blade. The avoiding cover and the upper cover of the printer are respectively arranged at two sides of a printing paper conveying passage, with opposite turning directions, and the movable blade (511) of the movable blade component is located between the avoiding cover and the fixed blade.

Abstract: The provision of a hardened elevated surface within the a inside die cutting area of a cutting rule to limit and control the extent to which die cut scrap processed corrugated fiberboard sheet material can position itself within the area within the cutting rule before ejection limit the tendency for instability within the cutting rule after the die cut is achieved and to better control the ejection of the scrap processed corrugated fiberboard sheet material to better eliminate unwanted scrap downstream of the die cutting process. Eliminated scrap reduces malfunctions in further processing and helps to eliminate health and contamination hazards in the finished corrugated fiberboard sheet product.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for producing small, thin sheets from an active-ingredient film (2), in which the latter is produced by casting the film material onto a substrate material or by coating a substrate material, storing it with or without substrate material on a reel, pulling it off the reel and cutting it. It achieves the object of designing a method of this type in such a way that with this method small sheets can be produced as exactly as possible in predetermined sizes. To do this, the active-ingredient film (2) is pulled off automatically, is separated from a substrate material which, if present, and in tensioned form, is fed to a cutting station and is cut, in the feed direction, into long, narrow strips (7) of predeterminable width, and the long strips (7) are brought together in the feed direction and together are fed by a further feed device (10) to a transverse cutter (11), which cuts through the combined long strips (7) at predetermined intervals.

Abstract: A work sheet processing system enables the effective utilization, of a redundant work sheet corresponding to a material work sheet from which product work sheets have been cut. The work sheet processing system includes a work sheet processing machine that performs a processing operation of cutting a product word sheet from a material work sheet, a redundant work sheet stocker that stores a redundant work sheet that is a remaining part of the material work sheet from which the product work sheet has been cut by the work sheet processing machine, and carry-in and carry-out means for carrying out the redundant work sheet stored in the redundant work sheet stocker into the original work sheet processing machine or another work sheet processing machine.

Abstract: In one aspect, a programmable load forming system is programmed to perform the method of downloading a calculated path from the computer to the robot controller, moving one or more bundles along the calculated path to position the one or more bundles in a predetermined stacking position of a stacking pattern using the robot, and determining if the robot has completed moving along the calculated path. The calculated path is defined, in part, by the stacking pattern and other parameters such as, for example, bundle geometry, bundle levelness, bundle compressibility, among other parameters. In another aspect, the system is programmed to perform a method of sensing the top of a bundle and controllably placing a bundle. Additional aspects are directed to systems and methods of safely operating the robot and an inventive hopper design for holding bottom/tie sheets.

Abstract: A module for automatic scrap wire isolating and removal is used in systems such as wire insulation lines for extricating scrap wires while minimally interfering with the mechanized wire insulation process. One such module includes a knife assembly with a knife, a scrap tray with a tilt plate for catching the scrap wire below the knife assembly, an accumulator with curved hooks oriented for catching and accumulating, one at a time, the wire and the scrap wire and rotatable for letting go, one at a time, of the wire and scrap wire, so as to allow the knife to completely separate the scrap wire from the wire. A lifting linkage in this module is operatively engaged with the tilt plate tilting it at an angle sufficient for the isolated scrap wire to slide off, whereby the scrap wire is removed.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus provided with a sheet punching device and a processor unit for controlling the apparatus, said processor unit being adapted to enable an operator to specify sheet size, sheet orientation, and hole positions in batches of sheets being processed and creating a staggered stack of sheets by stacking said batches of sheets with holes aligned.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for producing small, thin sheets from an active-ingredient film (2), in which the latter is produced by casting the film material onto a substrate material or by coating a substrate material, storing it with or without substrate material on a reel, pulling it off the reel and cutting it. It achieves the object of designing a method of this type in such a way that with this method small sheets can be produced as exactly as possible in predetermined sizes. To do this, the active-ingredient film (2) is pulled off automatically, is separated from a substrate material which, if present, and in tensioned form, is fed to a cutting station and is cut, in the feed direction, into long, narrow strips (7) of predeterminable width, and the long strips (7) are brought together in the feed direction and together are fed by a further feed device (10) to a transverse cutter (11), which cuts through the combined long strips (7) at predetermined intervals.

Abstract: A shuttle system including a main conveyor for transporting food products in a longitudinal direction, a supply of open top containers displaced along a longitudinal direction and movable in the longitudinal direction into a filling station. The shuttle system includes a shuttle robot for moving food products from the main conveyor to an open top container in the filling station. A sensor for receiving food product position data and a controller receiving data from the sensor and for instructing operation of the robot.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing groups of shingled slices comprises a jump conveyor and a slicing machine. The slicing machine includes a slicing blade. The jump conveyor includes a first slice receiving section and a second slice receiving section, the first slice receiving section having a first slice receiving surface, and the second slice receiving section having a second slice receiving surface. The jump conveyor is located adjacent the slicing blade so that the first slice receiving surface receives slices cut by the slicing blade directly. The first slice receiving section is articulated with respect to the second slice receiving section to be articulatingly movable relative to the second slice receiving section to vary the angular orientation of the first slice receiving surface.

Abstract: In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a lightweight hand-removable backstop structure is provided, the backstop structure having: an elongated substantially rigid structure arranged to be removably installed upon and rigidly supported in position by a backstop support of the unloading and stacking mechanism, the rigid structure having first, second and third elongated sections, with first and third sections being generally vertically arranged when the backstop structure is in use, and second section being generally horizontally arranged when the backstop structure is in use, the first section being configured to be hand-mounted upon and mechanically supported by the backstop support; the second section being disposed between and operatively rigidly interconnecting the first and third sections, the third section having at least one substantially flat large surface portion arranged to have a generally vertical orientation when the backstop structure is in use, the backstop structure, when in use, being of

Abstract: Guiding and cutting apparatus for use in a paper converting and sheet inserting apparatus. Guiding apparatus includes first and second rollers for engaging lateral edges of a web and a driving apparatus configured to permit the rollers to rotate at different surface speeds relative to one another. Cutting apparatus includes an angled blade for transversely cutting each side-by-side portion of a slit web into discrete sheets. Two side-by-side sheets are cut from respective web portions separately in time. Method, blade apparatus, web brake and slitter apparatus are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for palletizing confectioned units including the steps of grouping the confectioned units to a layer of confectioned units in a grouping device, providing a material for an intermediate layer comprising a partly elastic foil material, cutting a single sheet from the material for the intermediate layer, moving the layer of confectioned units and the single sheet of the intermediate layer to a transport device, moving the layer of confectioned goods and the single sheet of the intermediate layer into the loading station of the transport device, transporting the layer of confectioned goods and the single sheet of the intermediate layer to an unloading station, and positioning the layer of confectioned goods and the single sheet of the intermediate layer at the unloading station onto a pallet or onto layers of goods which are already positioned on the pallet.

Abstract: A skid for supporting stackable workpieces is provided. The skid includes a first and a second support member and a first and a second connecting member. The first and second support members extend in a first direction in a substantially parallel spaced relationship with respect to one another. Each support member includes a base member and a plurality of extension members extending from the base member, wherein a length of the first support base member and the second support base member is greater than a width between a pair of side guides of a stacking system. The extension members are configured to support stackable workpieces thereon. Each connecting member extends in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. Each connecting member has an end portion disposed on the base member of the first support member between extension members. The other end portion of each connecting member is disposed on the base member of the second support member between extension members.

Abstract: A sales slip printer for segments (26) that are to be separated from a continuous paper strip (14) with a V-shaped knife (18) and a stacking tray (24) for the segments (26) separated from the continuous paper strip (14) located behind an output channel (12), which is separated from the output channel (12) by projections (28) extending in the side edge areas of the output channel (12), and a slide (30), which pushes through the already separated edges of the continuous paper strip (14) into the stacking tray (24) between the projections (28) during a cutting action.

Abstract: [Problems] In a conventional texture cutting, little attention was paid to the accuracy of the angled or the curved texture cutting, and the accurate cutting could not be conducted. [Mean of Solving Problems] A contact point between the top edge of a lower blade 75 and a rotation blade 67 is made to intersect with a center axis C with an error range of ±3 mm. Thereby, the accuracy of the angled or curved cutting is improved. Especially, the center of the rotation blade is significantly desirable to be positioned ahead of the center axis in the traveling direction, thereby enabling the smoother cutting.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for feeding and slitting mattress covers, quilts and other soft goods supported on a table. The apparatus has a first slitting wheel rotatable by a motor. A second slitting wheel is rotatable by the motor and contacts the first slitting wheel to provide a cutting action. The apparatus further includes a conveyor operable by the motor for conveying the soft goods past the slitting wheels, and a compression assembly having an actuator, a gear housing, and powered wheels for compressing the soft goods and holding the soft goods against the conveyor to preventing slippage or twisting.

Abstract: Disclosed are on-chip global electrical signaling systems and methods employing differential current-mode sensing having reduced delay and energy dissipation compared to conventional inverter repeaters. The present inventions can be used for point-to-point connections as well as N-to-1 connections.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of making microstructured laminae for replication and apparatus. In a preferred embodiment, the invention relates to machining V-shaped grooves on individual lamina forming cube-corner microstructures.

Abstract: A punch for attachment to a brace of a braced die has a hollow cutting nose with a leading end for cutting a material to be punched and a trailing end opposite the leading end. A shaft extends from the trailing end of the nose and is sized to pass through an aperture in a brace. An upper retainer is joined to the shaft and has an upper retaining surface adapted to abut an upper surface of a brace. A lower retainer is joined to the shaft and has a lower retaining surface adapted to abut a lower surface of a brace. An internal waste evacuation chute extends from the interior of the hollow cutting nose and through the shaft for evacuating plugs of punched material from the nose.

Abstract: A stack of alternating sheets includes repeating diecuts offset among the sheets. The sheets may be made from a continuous web using a die to cut the repeating diecuts along the running axis of the web. Individual sheets are cut from the web and stacked with the diecuts offset from each other in turn. The stack of sheets may be loaded into a printer and fed individually therethrough, with the offset diecuts preventing interlocking therebetween.

Abstract: An automatic cutting and stacking device for arcuately shaped blanks is disclosed. The device contains a feeding table followed by a cutting unit and a stacking device. The cutting unit is movable in relation to the feeding table to thus allow a cutting perpendicular to the contour of the shaped film. The stacking unit comprises a slide plate and a movable base plate upon which the cut blanks are stacked. The height of the base plate can be adjusted/lowered in relation to the accumulating thickness of the stacking height of the cut blanks.

Abstract: A material cutting and feeding machine for cutting and perforating a roll of paper. The material cutting and feeding machine includes a generally rectangular frame. A material feeding roller is mounted to the frame. The feeding roller is adapted to hold a roll of paper. A motor is adapted to rotate a draw roller assembly that draws the paper from the paper roll. A cutting assembly is mounted adjacent to the draw roller. The cutting assembly comprises a latitudinal perforating bar adapted to perforate the paper along a width of the paper, a perforating wheel adapted to perforate a length of the paper, and a latitudinal cutting bar adapted to cut the paper along the width of the paper. A guide roller assembly comprised of four rollers and two guides is orientated to feed the paper from the paper cutter to an exit in the frame.

Abstract: A device for transporting sheets in a region of a selectively usable sheet pile feeder includes a crosscutter of a sheet-fed processing machine having conveyor belts and contact-pressure devices cooperating therewith for feeding the sheets from the crosscutter, and a separating device of the sheet pile feeder, whereon contact-pressure devices are disposed.

Abstract: A method for controlling a bar processing mill having an exit and a cooling bed to produce bars of a predetermined cold length. The method includes, for a first bar in a processing order, calculating a long hot cut length based, at least in part upon a predetermined cold length. In addition, the method includes adjusting the long hot cut length based on a total length of bar exiting the exit, if the long hot cut length is greater than a minimum cooling bed length, and if a number of layers of bars to be processed on the cooling bed is less than a predetermined number.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for processing mail by severing an edge of each envelope in a stack of mail. The apparatus includes an input bin for receiving a stack of mail. An agitator confronting the stack of envelopes in the input bin reciprocally displaces the bottom envelope in the stack of mail to provide separation between the bottom envelope and the remaining envelopes in the stack. A feeder feeds the bottom envelope from the input bin to a transport that conveys the envelope along an envelope path. A cutter positioned along the envelope path severs one edge of the envelopes. The transport discharges the opened envelopes onto a return conveyor that conveys the opened envelopes to a stacking area where the opened envelopes are stacked.

Abstract: A slicing machine including a slicing blade for slicing at least first and second product loaves disposed in a side-by-side arrangement using a single rotation of the slicing blade is set forth. A single rotation of the slicing edge about the center of rotation results in a penetration gradient into each of the first and second product loaves that diminishes in magnitude over the single rotation. To this end, the slicing edge may have a profile defined a plurality of constant radius sections. Each constant radius section has a section center defining the center of the constant radius for that constant radius section. Further, each constant radius section has a section center differing from the section center of an adjacent constant radius section. Such a blade and its associated slicing station provide great control of slices from the loaves as they proceed from the loaf to a receiving conveyor of the slicing station.

Abstract: A turret assembly for receiving and holding lengths of re-cut tubing cut or sheared from a longer-length workpiece by a re-cut device. The turret assembly includes a motor, a plate and a plurality of accumulator members. The accumulator members are supported by the plate in essentially parallel, spaced-apart relationship to receive a predetermined quantity of lengths of re-cut tubing from the re-cut device. The plate is rotated by the motor. A stripping device having a stripping collar and a linear actuator can strip tubing from the accumulator members. A stacking element can collect stripped tubing from the accumulator members and stack tubing in a container.

Abstract: A sliding jogger comprising a fixed part 10 for securing to the frame 16 of a blanking tool and a sliding part 12 slidable on the fixed part. The two parts of the jogger are formed by stamping a respective blank from sheet metal and bending the blank.

Abstract: Sheet post processing apparatus is disclosed in a compact form for receiving from an image forming machine successive sheets of printed material and performing post processing thereto, by feeding sheets into the apparatus at the output speed of the image forming machine, by stopping the leading edge of the sheets by feed rolls, performing a first post process on the sheet, upstream of the feed rolls, then feeding the processed sheet, by said feed rolls, at a higher speed by either a bypass path to a receiver or through a divergent path by a diverter to an inclined tray beneath the first processor for performance of a different post process and then from the inclined tray to a stacker by an additional output feed associated with the inclined tray.

Abstract: The present invention provides a workpiece-transfer device that has functions for both loading and unloading workpieces, without requiring a workpiece-storage device to enable a function for replacing material and product workpieces with each other, and that requires only a simple configuration and low costs. A workpiece-transfer device loads a material workpiece W1 in a workpiece-machining device 1 and unloads a product workpiece W2 from the workpiece-machining device 1. A movement means with a rectangular coordinate system 30 is provided to move a traveling body 27 in a first direction along the direction in which the workpiece-machining device 1 and a workpiece-storage device 2 stand in a line (direction X) as well as in a second horizontal direction orthogonal to the first direction (direction Y). The traveling body 27 includes a gripping means 28 for gripping a material or product workpiece W1 and W2.

Abstract: An automatic cutting and stacking device for arcuately shaped blanks is disclosed. The device contains a feeding table followed by a cutting unit and a stacking device. The cutting unit is movable in relation to the feeding table to thus allow a cutting perpendicular to the contour of the shaped film. The stacking unit comprises a slide plate and a movable base plate upon which the cut blanks are stacked. The height of the base plate can be adjusted/lowered in relation to the accumulating thickness of the stacking height of the cut blanks.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an integrated circuit (10, 110) has a contention detection circuit (12, 112) coupled to a tri-stateable output buffer (18, 118). The contention detection circuit (12, 112) provides a contention tri-state control signal (34, 134) to the tri-stateable output buffer (18, 118) in order to place it in a tri-stated condition when an external device (31, 131), such as a computer, supplies power to an input/output pad (22, 122) on the integrated circuit (10, 110). Thus, external and/or internal buffer contention is avoided when an external device (31, 131), such as a computer, supplies power to an input/output pad (22, 122) on the integrated circuit (10, 110).

Abstract: A machine for cutting sheets of material in stacks. The machine has a counter that supports the material, a blade for cutting the material, a hold-down that descends onto the material being cut and a saddle for advancing it toward the blade, a keyboard with alphanumeric characters, icons, etc. for operating the machine, a processor for processing input from the keyboard, and a display for displaying the state of the machine and/or the cutting program.

Abstract: A cutter system for cutting a single ply or multiple plies of limp material, or a lay, into a plurality of parts includes a cutter table for supporting the lay with a cutter head for cutting the lay into parts. The cutter system also includes a pair of overlay pinch mechanisms for preventing an overlay material, placed atop of the lay, from being displaced during transitioning of the lay from the cutter table onto a take-off table. Each overlay pinch mechanism includes a bracket for securing the overlay pinch mechanism onto the take-off table and a loaded clamp attaching onto the bracket. The clamp has an engaged position and a disengaged position. In the engaged position, a wheel, pivotably secured to the clamp, engages the overlay material to prevent displacement thereof during transitioning of the lay from the cutter table onto the take-off table.

Abstract: A slicing machine that deposits foodstuff slices in a stack atop a support in a stacking station has a sheet-interposing device provided with a supply roll of sheet material and a feed roller for feeding a leading end of the sheet material in a direction to the stacking station. a guide between the station and the roller imparts to the sheet leading end an upwardly concave U-shape to stiffen the sheet leading end so it projects horizontally stiffly from the guide above the station. A cutter movable between the guide and the station cuts off the sheet leading end so that the cut-off end drops down in the station.

Abstract: For handling thin panes of glass or similar work pieces and products in conveyance systems, machining installations, and the like, by means of pneumatic forces, a device is proposed that is characterized by two plates (1, 2) with flat surfaces on at least one side, arranged parallel to each other at a distance (D) sufficient to hold the pane of glass (3) without contact, where the plates (1, 2) have a multitude of gas passages (4), and all the gas passages (4) of a plate (1, 2) can each be connected to a gas delivery device through one or more ducts, etc. to generate an excess pressure or a vacuum, and where at least some of the gas passages (4) are arranged in pairs opposite each other.

Abstract: A machine for punching sheet metal, and having a worktable beneath which are located two stores for storing blank and machined sheets. Over each store, the worktable has a respective opening, which is closed selectively by a respective movable closing device, which, in the closed position, defines a portion of the worktable. Over one of the two stores, a handling device is provided for partly lifting a blank sheet from the store and over the worktable; and, over the other of the two stores, a movable stop element is provided for retaining the machined sheet over the respective opening as the respective movable closing device is moved.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting dry pasta strands includes a frame and a guide rail mounted to the frame. A bucket is slidably mounted to the guide rail and linearly moves along the guide rail. The bucket has a stepped pasta-receiving channel including a cutting edge. A cutting blade is fixed to the frame for selective sliding engagement against the cutting edge to cut the pasta in half.

Abstract: A cutting apparatus for separating packages from a line of interconnected packages. The technical problem is to simplify the cutting apparatus and shorten the set-up times and the work cycles. This problem is achieved with a lower knife (4) capable of being moved in between the packages in the vertical direction from below and with an upper roll (12) capable of being moved, together with a discharge gripper (11) for the separated packages, parallel to the conveying section while being pressed against the lower knife.

Abstract: Apparatus for stacking egg carriers comprises in linear disposition a carrier delivery conveyor feeding onto a loading station. A transfer arrangement is provided to lift a load from the loading station, displace it linearly and deposit it on a stacking station. A discharge conveyor feeds from the stacking station and a transfer device is provided to move a load or a layered plurality of loads, from the stacking station onto the discharge conveyor. A motive power source is provided and an actuating mechanism operable at the loading station to operate the power source to provide movement of the transfer arrangement and periodically movement of the transfer device.

Abstract: A dispensing mechanism dispenses labels having a pressure sensitive adhesive face and an adhesive release material coated face. A guide serves to guide the labels in web form along plasma-coated surfaces to a printer and then to a cutter mechanism for forming discrete labels and dispensing the labels. An open-cell foam sponge is provided for wiping the rotary cutter using silicone oil wicked into the wiper. A plate projects from the exit opening of the dispenser at an angle to the guide path to maintain the cut label on the dispenser plate. Additionally, a hub assembly is provided wherein the hub has a contact area in excess of 50% of the available contact area along the inside of the core mounting the label supply.

Abstract: A slider of the punch carry out unit is moved in the X-axis direction adjacent a punching section of the punch press machine before or after a plate material is punched into a punched product by a punch press machine. At the same time, a gravity center and a shape of the punched product are calculated and recognized on the basis of the manufacturing data. On the basis of the obtained gravity center and the shape of the punched product, the gravity center of the punched product is moved under the lift arm by the X- and Y-axis locating mechanism. Vacuum pads located just over the punched product are selected or discriminated. Then, the lift arm is lowered and the punched product is held by actuating only the discriminated vacuum pads. During this lift motion, it is preferable to bend one end of the punched product slightly upward to easily separate the punched product from the remaining flat plate material.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a stacking machine which cuts a multiply rope into bundles, clamps the lead ends of the bundles against a conveyor which moves the bundles to stacking stations where the bundles are collected in stacks. Completed stacks are transferred to a takeaway conveyor.

Abstract: An automated sheet metal blanking apparatus includes a loading table having a conveyor horizontally moveable between a loading position wherein sheet metal pieces are loaded onto the conveyor and a destacking station wherein the conveyor transfers the sheet metal pieces onto the destacking station for subsequent processing. A qualifier receives and positions destacked sheet metal pieces. A steel rule die blanking press receives prepositioned sheet metal pieces from the qualifier. The lower die includes mechanical positioners for final positioning the sheet metal pieces. A feed manipulator including an elongated arm mounts a plurality of controllable vacuum pickups operable for transferring sheet metal pieces between the destacking station, qualifier and blanking press. The feed manipulator is moveable over the destacking station and qualifier and moveable in between the upper and lower dies.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a stacking machine which cuts a multiply rope into bundles, clamps the lead ends of the bundles against a conveyor which moves the bundles to stacking stations where the bundles are collected in stacks. Completed stacks are transferred to a takeaway conveyor.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a conveying device for flat printed products. Exemplary embodiments include a transport device for transporting signatures. A plurality of arms, each having a seizing device, are assigned to the transport device for seizing signatures emerging from the transport device. Upon rotational movement of the arms, the seizing devices dive into non-raised portions of a transporting element of the transporting device for seizing a leading edge of respective signatures.

Abstract: An automatic fabric pattern-matching apparatus for, a fabric (MA) which has a pattern continuous at least in the lateral direction and which is unwound and spread from a wound fabric (M) and is fed from one end thereof in the longitudinal direction of the fabric in a hanging manner via a feeding mechanism of the fabric pattern-matching apparatus. The surface of the hanging portion of the fabric (MA) fed in the hanging manner is read by a CCD camera functioning as an optical reading apparatus, so that the vertical position of the fabric (MA) is controlled for aligning the fabric pattern so as to form a lateral straight line, based on the read signal. As a result, disadvantageous phenomena such as bias or bowed patterns created by gravity are eliminated, thereby eliminating defective products due to the disadvantageous phenomena noted.